In June 2014, the Jefferson County Alcohol Treatment Court (JCATC) was implemented. The Court, part of the larger Criminal Justice Collaborating Council (established the same year), is part of a joint mission to enhance public safety through community collaboration. The JCATC obtained grant funding to help reduce drunk driving recidivism in the county. Participants in the Alcohol Treatment Court are required to undergo alcohol treatment and strict supervision through the duration of their monitoring period. The Wisconsin Department of Justice granted Jefferson County a $174,020 grant to maintain their OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) Court, enhance OWI Controls/Restrictions and fund a CJCC/Treatment Court coordinator. These types of programs are indispensable in reducing drunk driving and drunk driving recidivism since they focus on the underlying problem of addiction and treatment as opposed to simply punishing the individual for their actions. The main goal of Alcohol Treatment Courts like JCATC is just that: Treatment. They hope to keep non-violent offenders out of jail and productive members of society while focusing on maintaining sobriety.
Jefferson County and other jurisdictions have utilized alcohol monitoring like the SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring device which provides 24-hour monitoring. Participants must maintain complete sobriety throughout the monitoring period. Any alcohol consumption is reported directly to the supervising agency. SCRAM helps programs such as the JCATC monitor participants in a cost-effective way that provides complete assurance of sobriety. Both the public-at-large and the individual’s rights are protected.